Over the weekend, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo sent out a research note suggesting that the iPhone 13 was “likely” to support low-orbit satellite communication. ground, a feature that would allow iPhone users to make calls and send messages when it comes to mobile and WiFi connections. they are not available.
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In that note, Kuo said Apple would use a “custom” Qualcomm X60 baseband chip that supports satellite communications. He also stated that Apple would work with Globalstar, a partner of Qualcomm, on the basis that Qualcomm will implement support for Globalstar’s n53 band in a future modem.
Almost immediately, mobile analysts and those with experience in mobile devices and communications began discussing Kuo’s report as inaccurate.
Globalstar is, in fact, a satellite company that works with Qualcomm, but the n53 band that Kuo mentions is. terrestrial spectrum. In February, Globalstar announced that Qualcomm’s new X65 modem would offer global 5G n53 support in an effort to expand Globalstar’s “terrestrial spectrum marketing”.
Band n53 is a variant of Globalstar’s terrestrial band 53, which is already used for 4G and 5G private networks. Nokia, for example, uses Band 53 for a private wireless network in the port of Seattle. Globalstar uses the bandwidth spectrum for partner companies that would not otherwise have access to the licensed spectrum.
Globalstar does not market or offer 53 or n53 band spectrum for satellite communications, but only for terrestrial coverage. Satellite and terrestrial communication is not a function of the spectrum that Kuo mentioned and is not approved for this type of use.
It is worth noting that Qualcomm is partnering with Globalstar for band 53 on the X65 modem, that is no the modem Apple is using this year. Apple uses the X60, but it looks like there may be a special variant designed by Apple that supports n53. This is not to say that the iPhone 13 gets satellite communication features, and signals suggest that this points to the possibility of improving 5G connectivity.
Many people have pointed out the problem between Kuo’s prediction and the actual function of the n53 band. PCMagSascha Segan, for example, says that while the X60 may have the support of Globalstar’s Band 53, that doesn’t mean it communicates with satellites in any way. Other Twitter users have pointed out similar issues and provided more technical details to those concerned.
OK. I think maybe I’ve gotten to the bottom of this rumor about “the iPhone 13 will include satellite connectivity,” and it could be a level of “iPhone Math” phone game. The key: Globalstar. – Sascha Segan (@saschasegan) August 30, 2021
1 / No, the iPhone 13 will not talk to the satellites. Instead, the iPhone (according to rumors) will now support another 4G / 5G radio band that was previously assigned to satellite service but can now be used for terrestrial service. – Robᵉʳᵗ Graham #PcapsOrItDidntHappen (@ErrataRob) August 30, 2021
Kuo often has an accurate view of Apple’s plans, but there seems to have been some sort of poor communication or misunderstanding with his note to investors. It is possible that Kuo believes that the X60 will support some other spectrum no n53, but given that it specifically mentions n53 and the upcoming Qualcomm X65 modem supports n53 and not spectrum that would allow low-Earth orbit satellite communications, it seems very unlikely.
There have been rumors that Apple has a “secret” satellite team working on ways to use satellites for communication purposes. Apple has a dozen aerospace, satellite and antenna design engineers working on the project. Bloomberg he said in 2019.
Apple’s goal with the project is to reduce reliance on mobile operators and improve coverage, and Apple was said at the time to expect to produce results “in five years.”
This timeline would see that Apple would launch some sort of possible satellite communication feature by 2024.